Fiona

      As I sat in the chair across the room in a small Ugandan Orphanage, I noticed a very skinny young lady across the room.  Sitting in a chair with her knees pulled up to her chest, a somber look on her face and her big eyes, yellowed from the effects of HIV, strolling around the room in wonder of who we were.  At first I thought she was a seven or eight-year-old girl because of how tiny she was, but we soon found out that she was actually a 15-year-old girl with HIV.   She was very sad today because her Antiretroviral (ARV’s) medication has not been working effectively.

       It was a privilege to spend time with Fiona today and I was glad to see that everyone wasn’t just drawn to the little babies.  All of us took an extreme interest in her and we spent a lot of time holding her hand and just crying for her pain and crying for her sadness and disappointment. 

 

       

     At first Fiona wouldn’t smile at all or even speak one word to us, but after awhile she warmed up to us and we were able to steal a few smiles; we even got her to say some of our names.  Before we left the orphanage, Carrie gave Fiona a necklace and we walked her to the bathroom so she could see what she looked like in the mirror and again, we were able to see her beautiful smile.  We plan to visit Fiona before we leave… I have an incredibly deep love for her after meeting her today and I’m praying that she’ll never go another day not feeling loved…

Tammy – May 28, 2013